St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-08-06
COVINGTON, ST. TAMMANY PARISH, AUGUST
HIS FIRST GRAFTON.

HIS FIRST GRAFTON.
A Ts.dsrsoot's Fe.rth-of-J.ly spsssA %
In Blsck Dsar OsleA.
The sparsely settled, treeless and
grassless gulches and slopes Of the
Rocky Mountains suggest little possi-
bility Of enjoyment in the way Of pic
mics or the usual methods Of celebrat-
ing Independence day. And yet the
mountaineers always look forward to
the day with eager anticipations Of .
'tgood time" A gentleman spending
the summer in . most dreary little
mining camp. gives the following &C.
count Of the manner in which the
Fourth OF July was celebrated there
and Of the part he was forced to take
In the programme:
II did not know" he writes, ''that .
celebration Of any kind was intended
and was not . little surprised when my
landlady asked:
".Are you goin' to the big doin's up
in Black Bear Gulch. to-dayl'
"'What doingsr / asked.
"'Why, aint you heerd bout emf
There's goin' to be speechin'. an sing
in, an oratin.' an foot-racin', an al
sorts Of COINS on. up to the gulch.
Ev'ry body's goin'.'
so I concluded to 70. The spot
where the celebration was held was two
miles distant When I reached it l
found nearly two hundred persons A.
sembled. about twenty women and girls
among the number. 4 rude platform
had been erected. and several enter
prising persons had refreshments Of
various kinds for sale on rude counters
under the few scattering trees on the
mountain slope. Two violins and . big
drum composed the orchestra The
foot-racing programme had been carried
out. and l was patiently waiting for the
appearance Of the person who was to
do the 'oratin'.' when . self-appointed
master Of ceremonies vaulted lightly to
the platform and said:
It's time for the speechifying part
Of this ere celebration. Any body that
wants to do it can come forward and
begin
mo one seemed inclined 70 accept
this generous offer.
Where's Bob HaynesF asked the
man on the platform. He's the gabbiest
man in this country. He can beat IN
auctioneer.'
Tho gifted Bob not appearing. the
speaker cried out:
"'Well. como long. somsbod y! This
is . paterotic crowd. amt ite Aint
any body here got freedom an Fourth
of July enough in 'em to give the old
nag word an make the American
eagle feel goodi Has this thing got to
wind up with little hooray or two for
liberty. an nothin' else?'
There was no reply. Just then, to
my amazement the man. . total stran-
ger to me. suddenly pointed one long
finger towards me and cried out:
".Here stranger. you've got . tongue
In your head. amt yep Come long
here an orate sonnet
"'Yss. 60 long! say somethin'! cried
some one else.
II had never attempted . speech in
public in my life. and my blood ran
cold at the thought Of doing 90. But .
dozen voices cried out:
"'Yes. yes. stranger; give ID .
speechr
"I-I-indeed'-I tried to say. but
the man on the platform roared out.
As he said it:
"'Here. why don't you boys 'soort
the gentleman to the platformf Can't
yer have some style bout yeri'
AT once I was kindly but effectively
lifted forward by the laughing crowd.
md in . moment found myself on the
platform. with cold chills running down
my back. Ny tormentor said:
Ladies an gentlemen. I now have
The honor Of introducin' one Of the ora
tors Of the day, whose name l don't
happen to know. But that don't make
my difference. Now. mister, give the
I'D flag . send-on! You talk. and wen
10 the hoorayin.
Ladies' and gsntlemen." I began.
Il can't say that I find pleasure in this
aonOr"-
"Hooray! hoorayr'
"For I feel myself wholly incompe-
;ent to say any thing worthy the atten-
"Hooray! hooray! hoorayr'
''Of % large-and-good-natured-
lnd-and-intelligent IN audience Of
American citizens"
'Hooray! hooray! Pile iton strangsri
10 ahead! We can stand itg'
"I-I-really, gentlemen''-
"Hooray! hooray! hoorayv'
Really. gentlemen. ! find it dimcult
o give expression"-
"Hooray! hooray! hooray"
II could not endure the ordeal any
onger. and eluding the hands that tried
o detain me. amid tho boisterous
aughter Of the crowd. I ran for my
lorse. and jumping into the saddle. In
J few minutes was racing down the
,ulch, the wild ''hoorsy" Of the crowd
inging in my ears That was nv first
md last attempt to ''orats. ToseA's
The Creation Of Man.